Authored By Sean Phipps

A host of social media professionals will visit Chattanooga this fall to discuss the way real-time communication is changing the way we use social media. SocialLion, a social media agency based out of Chattanooga, has partnered with Jeramie McPeek Communications for the first Real Time Summit at The Westin Oct. 8-9. Designed as a summit for "social media leaders to connect and share how to thrive using high-speed, real-time storytelling," the event features presenters from a variety of social media professionals. More than 20 speakers will visit Chattanooga for the early week conference. Each speaker will share how real-time social media interaction helps their brands tell stories and hold conversations, as opposed to recapping an event the next day. "Social media and how people interact with it changes every day," SocialLion CEO and co-founder, Clark Campbell said. "One of the best ways to learn is to watch how the experts do it." Campbell said real-time media is the most "efficient and effective way to deliver fresh content" as the story unfolds and, thus, driving brand interaction, awareness and sales. From the event page: Speakers include Craig Tello, vice president of Digital and Social Content with World Wrestling Entertainment, Marissa O'Connor, director of social media strategy for NHL's Arizona Coyotes, and Lyndsay Signor, vice president of consumer engagement at NBC Sports Group. But real-time social media is applicable to more than just sports. Jeremy Cowart, a celebrity photographer and founder of The Purpose Hotel will visit from Nashville. His project — which was successfully funded on Kickstarter — seeks to build a hotel where every room tells a story and every item — from the art on the wall to the shampoo in the bathrooms — helps humanitarian efforts. Watch a preview video of Cowart's project below. https://youtu.be/jC-rpAkfE2I Alissa Gwynn is the social marketing manager for NBC's "The Voice," "America's Got Talent" and "World of Dance." Her job is "designing and implementing shows' multi-platform strategy, overseeing shows' daily digital activations, and commissioning entertaining, shareable content and social experiences." A full list of attendees is here. Ticket packages start at $499.00 for the main sessions. Complete general access is $999.00 and an all-access package is $1,299.00. All ticket packages are available here. For those who can't attend the events, a digital download of all the main event sessions will be available for $270 following the event. SocialLion was founded in 2015 by partners Campbell and Shibu Joseph. In 2011, Campbell realized how to leverage real-time social media for good. Following a series of deadly tornadoes, he tweeted to his Cleveland community using #CLEhelp, offering assistance to those in need. He was able to partner with an organization called Men and Women of Action and help hundreds of people affected by the tornadoes. "Within 30-minutes, I was pacing the floor of my sister's house replying to texts," he said. "It was an accident, but we helped provide 8,000 meals through the hashtag. That hashtag went from one person to all these people who wanted to help." As social media becomes even more pervasive, Campbell said the conference is designed to facilitate conversations and demonstrate thought leadership surrounding real-time storytelling. "The question is how do you leverage social media in real-time?" he said. "Every brand and company is having to leverage and the first step is listening in real-time. We're excited to offer the conference in the tech-hub city of Chattanooga. We're bringing in the best of the best. " Additional sponsors for the Real Time Summit include EPB, Delmondo, #tagboard, Ampsy and SwitcherStudio.